From 1850 to 1950, El pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles was transformed from a small frontier outpost in the distant Mexican territory of Alta California into a sprawling and storied American city called Los Angeles – its economic and cultural influence extending across the nation and the world. How did this remarkable achievement happen? What were the unique circumstances that provided Los Angeles with a way to greatness, and the remarkable and diverse people who envisioned and built this urban phenomenon? Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles – a four-part television series and multi-platform project seeks to answer these questions…

Astonishingly, the saga of how Los Angeles rapidly ascended has never received a comprehensive treatment in television and digital media… until now. In four one-hour television documentary episodes and companion multi-platform project, Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles tells the compelling story of the remarkable and often painful transformation of Los Angeles through an innovative multi-ethnic and multi-racial prism. It reveals a city that from its Native American, Spanish and Mexican beginnings and throughout the takeover by Anglo Americans was racially and ethnically diverse, and its people creative and determined. Where despite continuing segregation, discrimination, ethnic tensions and even sometimes violence, Los Angeles’ predominant Anglos and its Mexican and other minorities found ways to collaborate and fashion one of the most magnetic and important cities of the world.

Support Whitewashed Adobe

Documentaries depend upon generous support to be realized, Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles is depends on grants and private donations for funding. Help to support this historic and vital documentary project with your tax-deductible donation through our 501(c)(3) non-profit fiscal sponsor, The International Documentary Association (IDA).

Special Thanks

This project is made possible, in part, by a grant from the California Council for the Humanities in partnership with the Skirball Foundation, through the jointly supported California Documentary Project, a program of the California Stories Initiative.

Additional Support

The JKW Foundation

Jean Stein

Shelley Morrison

Greg & Carole Garneau

Read The Book

This project is based on William Deverell's critically acclaimed book WHITEWASHED ADOBE: THE RISE OF LOS ANGELES AND THE REMAKING OF ITS MEXICAN PAST.